Laelaspis dariusi Joharchi & Jalaeian

Joharchi, Omid, Jalaeian, Mahdi, Paktinat-Saeej, Saeed & Ghafarian, Azadeh, 2012, A new species and new records of Laelaspis Berlese (Acari, Laelapidae) from Iran, ZooKeys 208, pp. 17-25 : 19-20

Laelaspis dariusi Joharchi & Jalaeian sp. n. Figures 1-8

Specimens examined.

Holotype, female, Iran, Khorasan Razavi Province, Kalate Naderi (Laeen), 37°07'N, 59°29'E, alt. 858 m, 26 Mar 2010, S. Paktinat-saeej coll., in soil of apple orchard. Paratypes, seven females, same data as holotype (in YIAU, JAZM and ANIC).

Description of the female.

Figures 1-8. Dorsal idiosoma. Dorsal shield length 524-534, width 406-426 (n = 8) (Fig. 1). Shield oval shaped, with reticulation, more distinct in opisthonotal region; with 39 pairs of long setae, 22 podonotal, 17 opisthonotal, including two pairs of Zx setae between J and Z setae, almost all setae slightly swollen at base, with pointed tip (Fig. 4), podonotal setae very long, reaching well past base of next posterior setae, setae of central area of dorsal shield decreasing in length from anterior to posterior (j3, z2 74-82, j4 69-74, j6, J1, J3 54-57), lateral setae thicker than central setae, almost all marginal setae including Z5 slightly serrated (Fig. 3), length 89-99, almost double length of J5, length 45-50; opisthonotal region with three unpaired supernumerary seta Jx in each specimen. Shield with three pairs of large circular to oval-shaped pores, other pores inconspicuous.

Ventral idiosoma (Fig. 2). Tritosternum with columnar base (15-17 long × 9-10 wide), paired pilose laciniae, length 67-69 (Fig. 7), pre-sternal shields absent, pre-sternal area with some weak transverse lines. Sternal shield length 111-116, narrowest between coxae II (87-89) widest between coxae II & III (151-153), with slightly concave posterior margin and undulating anterior margin, with three pairs of long and smooth sternal setae, st142-47, st2 59-62, st3 67-69, reaching well past base of next posterior setae, one pair of lyrifissures adjacent to setae st1, a pair of larger lyrifissures between st2 and st3; antero-lateral surface of sternal shield with lineate ornamentation, central area smooth. Metasternal platelets absent, metasternal setae st4 (27-32) and metasternal pores located in soft skin; endopodal plates II/III fused to sternal shield, endopodal plates III/IV elongate, narrow, curved. Genital shield broad, length 277-285, maximum width 248-260, posterior margin rounded, abutting anal shield, surface with characteristic ornamentation including distinct Λ-shaped lines and polygonal ornamentation, bearing the long genital setae st5 (87-89) and two pairs of long setae (89-99) on its lateral edges. Paragenital pores located on soft skin lateral to shield behind coxae IV. Anal shield subtriangular, length 104-109, width 126-131; its anterior half with lineate ornamentation and a pair of lateral pores; post-anal seta 42-45 µm, longer and thicker than para-anal setae, 22-25. Opisthogastric skin with long, narrow and oval metapodal plates (62-64 long × 8-10 wide) very close to genital shield, and 15 pairs of slightly serrate setae, each arising on small sclerotised platelet, and seven pairs of pores. Exopodal plates forming subtriangular extensions behind coxae IV, narrow elongate exopodal plates II/III not fused to peritrematal shield. Peritreme extending from coxa IV to anterior of coxa I, peritrematal shield narrow, post-stigmatal section conspicuous, with two pairs of pores.

Gnathosoma. Epistome triangular, smooth (Fig. 6). Hypostomal groove with six rows of denticles each bearing 8-10 small teeth, and smooth anterior transverse line. Hypostome with four pairs of setae, internal posterior hypostomal setae h3 longest (Fig. 5). Corniculi robust and horn-like, reaching mid-level of palp femur. Palp chaetotaxy: trochanter 2 (v1 thick), femur 5, genu 6, tibia 12, tarsus 15; all setae smooth and needle-like, palp tarsal claw two-tined. Fixed digit of chelicera with six blunt teeth (Fig. 8); pilus dentilis short and robust; dorsal seta short, prostrate; movable digit with two teeth; arthrodial membrane with a rounded flap and short filaments.

Legs. Legs II and III short (302-312, 282-288), I and IV longer (430-446, 372-392). Leg I: coxa 0 0/1 0/1 0, trochanter 1 1/1 0/2 1 (ad thick), femur 2 3/2 2/2 2 (ad2, ad3, al1, pl1 and pl2 thick), genu 2 3/2 3/1 2 (all dorsal thick), tibia 2 3/2 3/1 2. Leg II: coxa 0 0/1 0/1 0 (all setae thick), trochanter 1 0/1 1/2 1, femur 2 3/1 2/2 1 (ad1, pd2 and pv1 thick), genu 2 3/1 2/1 2 (all ventral thick), tibia 2 2/1 2/1 2 (all ventral thick). Leg III: coxa 0 0/1 0/1 0 (all setae thick), trochanter 1 0/1 0/2 1 (al and av thick), femur 1 2/1 1/0 1 (ad1 and ad2 thick), genu 2 2/1 2/1 1 (ventral setae thick), tibia: 2 1/1 2/1 1(ventral setae thick). Leg IV: coxa 0 0/1 0/0 0, trochanter 1 0/1 0/2 1 (av thick), femur 1 2/1 1/0 1 (al long, ad1 and ad2 thick), genu 2 2/1 3/0 1 (ventral thick), tibia 2 1/1 3/1 2; all setae fine and needle-like unless otherwise noted. Tarsi I-IV with 18 setae 3 3/2 3/2 3 + mv, md. All pre-tarsi with a pair of claws and a long thin membranous ambulacrum.

Insemination structures not seen, apparently unsclerotised.

Etymology.

The species is named in memory of Darius I (Old Persian: Dārayava(h)uš), also known as Darius the Great, was the third king of the Achaemenid Empire, who proved to be a strong and wise ruler and he was tolerant toward other religions and cultures, promoted learning, agriculture, forestation, and the construction of highways. He also built the great palace cities of Susa and Persepolis.

Notes.

Laelaspis dariusi differs from all other species in the genus by its dorsal shield setae in central area decreasing in length from anterior to posterior, seta Z5 much longer than J5; seta v1 on the palp trochanter thick, sternal setae long and smooth, long enough to well past base of next posterior setae, movable digit of chelicera with two teeth and fixed digit of chelicera with six blunt teeth.